Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/05—Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves
  • A61B5/055—Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/0033—Features or image-related aspects of imaging apparatus, e.g. for MRI, optical tomography or impedance tomography apparatus; Arrangements of imaging apparatus in a room
  • A61B5/004—Features or image-related aspects of imaging apparatus, e.g. for MRI, optical tomography or impedance tomography apparatus; Arrangements of imaging apparatus in a room adapted for image acquisition of a particular organ or body part
  • A61B5/0042—Features or image-related aspects of imaging apparatus, e.g. for MRI, optical tomography or impedance tomography apparatus; Arrangements of imaging apparatus in a room adapted for image acquisition of a particular organ or body part for the brain
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/40—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the nervous system
  • A61B5/4076—Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system
  • A61B5/4088—Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/48—Other medical applications
  • A61B5/4848—Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K39/395—Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immune serum, e.g. antilymphocytic serum
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/28—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/505—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising antibodies

Definitions

• Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia afflicting as many as 5.3 million Americans.
• the disease is generally believed to be caused by the accumulation of ⁇ - amyloid plaques in the brain, resulting in nerve cell death and concomitant reduction in neurotransmitters levels. Impairment in memory, cognition, reasoning, and judgment results along with the decrease in emotional stability and development of behavioral problems. The disease is progressive leading to profound mental deterioration and ultimately death.
• Alzheimer's disease There is no known cure for the Alzheimer's disease.
• Patient care primarily focuses on the management of symptoms of this disease.
• Disease progression in Alzheimer's patients can be monitored in terms of reduction in brain tissue volume, or enlargement of ventricular volume, over time.
• MRI magnetic resonance imaging
• these image- based monitoring techniques are advantageous in their ease to administer and to quantify any changes in the brain condition.
• the recent discovery that antibodies against ⁇ -amyloid are present in human immunoglobulin preparations (e.g., intravenous immunoglobulin or IVIG) and can inhibit the neurotoxic effects of ⁇ -amyloid lead to clinical trials in Alzheimer's patients. Disease stabilization and modest improvement in cognitive ability were noted.
• This inventions relates to the use of change in ventricular volume to monitor the effect of a brain preserving treatment of Alzheimer's disease and guide formulating further treatment plans.
• the invention provides a method for treating Alzheimer's disease in a subject in need thereof. The method is useful to determine whether a particular treatment dose and/or frequency is effective after a time period of treatment, the determination is then used to guide modification of future treatment. Typically, if a determination of effectiveness is made, the same dose and/or frequency is maintained; if a determination of ineffectiveness is made, a higher dose and/or frequency is used for a subsequent time period before the effectiveness is assessed again.
• the method includes these sequential steps: (a) determining ventricular volume in the subject's brain by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), thereby obtaining a baseline value of ventricular volume; (b) administering a brain preserving therapeutic agent to the subject for the purpose of treating Alzheimer's disease during a first time period; (c) determining ventricular volume in the subject's brain by MRI, thereby obtaining a first intermediate value of ventricular volume; (d) comparing the intermediate value from step (c) with the baseline value from step (a); and (e) increasing administration of the brain preserving therapeutic agent in dose or frequency when step (d) indicates an increase from the baseline value to the first intermediate value and the increase is equal to or greater than an expected increase in ventricular volume in a subject with Alzheimer's disease but without receiving treatment for the disease within a time period of the same duration as the first time period, or, maintaining administration of the brain preserving therapeutic agent in dose or frequency when step (d) indicates no increase from the baseline value to the first intermediate value or indicates an increase that is less than an expected increase in MRI
• Alzheimer's disease but without receiving treatment for the disease within a time period of the same duration as the first time period.
• steps (b) to (d) are further repeated at least once, and in each repeat the latest intermediate value is compared with the second latest intermediate value to determine future administration of the therapeutic agent in the same manner as step (e).
• a determination of ineffectiveness will be made after at least round of repeat treatment at an increased dose and/or frequency schedule (e.g., when steps (b) to (d) have already been repeated at least once) and treatment will then be discontinued. This is often seen when the latest dose and/or frequency is already relatively high within the commonly used dose and/or frequency range.
• step (d) of the claimed method during any repeat indicates an increase from one intermediate value to its subsequent intermediate value and the increase is equal to or greater than an expected increase in ventricular volume in a subject with Alzheimer's disease but without receiving treatment for the disease within a time period of the same duration as the time period between the two intermediate values, and the administration of the brain preserving therapeutic agent is increased in dose or frequency
• the method further comprises these steps: (f) determining ventricular volume in the subject's brain by MRI after an additional time period during which the therapeutic agent is administered to the subject, thereby obtaining additional intermediate value of ventricular volume; (g) comparing the additional intermediate value with its previous intermediate value; and (h) discontinuing further administration of the therapeutic agent when step (g) indicates an increase from the previous intermediate value to the additional intermediate value and the increase is equal to or greater than an expected increase in ventricular volume in a subject with Alzheimer's disease but without receiving brain preserving treatment for the disease within a time period of the same duration as the additional time period, or, maintaining administration of the brain preserving therapeutic agent in dose
• the time interval e.g., the first, second, or any subsequent time period, may be 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, or 18 months.
• the therapeutic agent is an immunoglobulin-based brain preserving therapeutic agent, such as an immunoglobulin G.
• the therapeutic agent is IVIG, frequently administered intravenously.
• the IVIG is administered at about 0.2 to 2 grams per kg body weight of the subject.
• the frequency of administration may be once a week, twice a week, once a month, or twice a month.
• the IVIG is administered at about 0.4 gram per kg body weight of the subject twice a month.
• the invention provides a method for assessing the efficacy of a brain preserving therapy intended for treating Alzheimer's disease.
• the method includes these steps: (a) determining the rate of change in ventricular volume of subjects suffering from Alzheimer's disease but not receiving the therapy, thereby obtaining an average rate of change in ventricular volume as a non-therapeutic rate of ventricular volume change; (b) determining the rate of change in ventricular volume of subjects suffering from Alzheimer's disease and receiving the therapy, thereby obtaining an average rate of change in ventricular volume as a therapeutic rate of ventricular volume change; and (c) comparing the therapeutic rate with the non-therapeutic rate, thereby determining the efficacy of the therapy.
• the ventricular volume in steps (a) and (b) is determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• MRI magnetic resonance imaging
• the rate of change in ventricular volume in step (a) or (b) is determined over a time period of about 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, or 18 months.
• the therapy is by administration of an immunoglobulin-based brain preserving therapeutic agent, such as an immunoglobulin G.
• the therapy is IVIG administration, preferably intravenously.
• the IVIG may be administered at about 0.2 to 2 grams per kg body weight of the subject per month. The frequency of
• administration may be once a week, twice a week, once a month, or twice a month.
• the IVIG is administered at about 0.4 gram per kg body weight of the subject twice a month.
• Figure 1 is a schematic presentation of the 18-month IVIG study design.
• Figure 2 compares the IVIG group and the placebo group in CGIC scores during the 18-month study.
• Figure 3 compares the IVIG group and the placebo group in ADAS-Cog scores during the 18-month study.
• Figures 4A-4D compare the IVIG group and the placebo group in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Quality of Life (QOL) Inventory (Caregiver), and Modified Minimental (3MS) tests, respectively, during the 18-month study.
• ADL Activities of Daily Living
• NPI Neuropsychiatric Inventory
• QOL Quality of Life Inventory
• 3MS Modified Minimental
• Figure 5 shows the mean baseline change in CGIC scores from 0 to 18 months of the placebo group and four IVIG groups (0.8g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/2wk; 0.2g/gk/2wk).
• Figure 6 compares the placebo group and the IVIG 0.4g/kg/2wk group in CGIC scores from 0 to 18 months.
• Figure 7 shows the mean baseline change in ADAS-Cog scores from 0 to 18 months of the placebo group and four IVIG groups (0.8g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/2wk; 0.2g/gk/2wk).
• Figure 8 compares the placebo group and the IVIG 0.4g/kg/2wk group in ADAS-Cog scores from 0 to 18 months.
• Figure 9 shows the mean baseline change in ADL test scores from 0 to 18 months of the placebo group and four IVIG groups (0.8g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/2wk; 0.2g/gk/2wk).
• Figure 10 shows the mean baseline change in NPI test scores from 0 to 18 months of the placebo group and four IVIG groups (0.8g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/2wk; 0.2g/gk/2wk).
• Figure 11 shows the mean baseline change in QOL-Caregiver test scores from 0 to 18 months of the placebo group and four IVIG groups (0.8g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/2wk; 0.2g/gk/2wk).
• Figure 12 shows the mean baseline change in 3MS test scores from 0 to 18 months of the placebo group and four IVIG groups (0.8g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/2wk; 0.2g/gk/2wk).
• Figure 13 shows annual change in ventricular volume during the 18-month study in the placebo group, four IVIG groups (0.8g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/4wk; 0.4g/kg/2wk; 0.2g/gk/2wk), and all IVIG group.
• Figure 14 shows the effects of IVIG treatment in the 18-month study by comparing whole brain percent volume change in the placebo group, four IVIG groups (0.8g/kg/4wk;
• Figure 15 shows the correlation between changes in ventricular volume and two cognitive test scores (CGIC and ADAS-Cog) in the 18-month study.
• Figure 16 shows the correlation between change in whole brain volume and two cognitive test scores (CGIC and ADAS-Cog) in the 18-month study.
• AD Alzheimer's disease
• a physician will typically confirm the diagnosis of AD with behavioral assessments and cognitive tests, often followed by a brain scan. As the disease advances, further symptoms will become evident, including confusion, irritability and aggression, mood swings, language breakdown, long-term memory loss, and the general withdrawal of the patients as their senses decline.
• a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease or AD may be afflicted with any variation of the brain disorder and at any stage of the condition as diagnosed according to the currently used diagnostic criteria.
• the ventricular system is a set of structures containing cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. It includes four interconnected ventricles and is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord.
• ventricular volume or "ventricular space” refers to the entire space of ventricular system within which the cerebrospinal fluid is contained. Ventricular space can be visualized by imaging techniques such as CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and can be quantitatively measured with the aid of various computer software. A number of conditions are known to exhibit ventricular space enlargement, often a continuous process as the conditions progress.
• ventricular enlargement rate refers to the increase of ventricular volume over a specified amount of time (for example, per year) as indicated by changes quantified through imaging techniques such as CT scan or MRI.
• an "immunoglobulin-based brain preserving therapeutic agent” refers to any therapeutic composition that comprises one or more immunoglobulins and is used for treating patients suffering from a condition that involves accelerated brain shrinkage (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) for preventing, reducing, or reversing such accelerated shrinkage.
• a composition may comprise one or more immunoglobulin (e.g., immunoglobulin G), which may be naturally occurring, recombinantly produced, or a portion of an immunoglobulin (e.g., immunoglobulin G), which may be naturally occurring, recombinantly produced, or a portion of an immunoglobulin (e.g., immunoglobulin G), which may be naturally occurring, recombinantly produced, or a portion of an immunoglobulin (e.g., immunoglobulin G), which may be naturally occurring, recombinantly produced, or a portion of an immunoglobulin (e.g., immunoglobulin G), which may be naturally
• immunoglobulin especially a binding portion thereof, e.g., a Fab or F(ab') 2 fragment, or a single chain antibody.
• a binding portion thereof e.g., a Fab or F(ab') 2 fragment, or a single chain antibody.
• an antibody-based brain preserving therapeutic agent can be found in, e.g., US2009/0155256.
• IVIG Intravenous immunoglobulin
• IgG immunoglobulin G
• IVIGs are sterile, purified IgG products used in treating certain medical conditions.
• intravenous indicates administration by intravenous injection, as this term is used in this patent application, IVIG compositions also encompass IgG compositions that are formulated for and administered by different routes, including subcutaneous administration.
• an expected increase in ventricular volume in a subject with Alzheimer's disease but without receiving brain preserving therapy for the disease refers to the amount of ventricular enlargement that would be anticipated in an Alzheimer patient not receiving anti-Alzheimer brain preserving treatment during the same length of time. This amount of ventricular enlargement is due to natural progression of the disease at an average pace.
• this amount is the average amount calculated from a group of untreated individuals, who have Alzheimer's disease but have received no treatment for preservation of brain volume and function, or have received only symptom-alleviating treatment that does not preserve brain volume (e.g., anti-cholinesterase or ACEI and memantidine treatment), for the disease, when observed under conditions otherwise comparable to those Alzheimer patients who have received brain preserving treatment (or treated individuals).
• the IVIG-treated and IVIG-untreated individuals should be reasonably matched in terms of being at similar stages or severity of Alzheimer's disease, as well as in other aspects such as duration of disease, age, gender, medical history, ethnic background, level of education.
• the changes in ventricular volume between the treated and untreated individuals should be compared after it is taken into consideration the length of time during which such changes take place. For instance, the expected annual ventricular enlargement for an average untreated Alzheimer's disease patient is determined to be about 10%, even though the actual time period for making the observation and calculation can be longer or shorter than one year.
• the untreated group used to calculate an expected rate of ventricular enlargement or brain atrophy is preferred to be of a reasonable size, for example, including at least 5 or 10 or more individuals. Average rates for ventricular volume increase and brain atrophy for untreated individuals with Alzheimer's disease have been determined and are well known by those of skill in the art (see, e.g., Frisoni et al, 2010, Neurology 6:67-77). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Ventricular enlargement occurs as a consequence of brain atrophy in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and correlates with cognitive decline and increasing Alzheimer neuropathology.
• AD Alzheimer's Disease
• VER ventricular enlargement rate
• IVIG intravenous immunoglobulin
• Imaging techniques such as MRI for quantitatively monitoring VER provides a quick and objective means for monitoring any changes in AD patients' cognitive ability in response to a brain preserving therapy.
• Imaging techniques also allow direct measurement of whole brain volume to indicate brain atrophy in AD patients and therefore indicate therapeutic efficacy of a brain preserving agent in treating AD.
• the present inventors have observed statistically significant changes in whole brain volume (reduction of whole brain shrinkage rate) among AD patients receiving brain preserving treatment after some time period, e.g., 12 months.
• VER monitoring in comparison with whole brain measurement is more sensitive and can provides an indication of brain volume change in a relatively shorter time period, such as within 3 months or 6 months, following the start of a brain preserving treatment.
• the VER method is therefore relatively faster for detecting changes in AD patient brain volume and efficacy of a brain preserving therapy.
• Patients to receive the IVIG treatment (or other anti-Alzheimer brain preserving therapeutic agents) according to the present invention are diagnosed to suffer from Alzheimer's disease.
• the onset of Alzheimer's disease is usually gradual, and it is slowly progressive.
• Alzheimer's disease Mild personality changes, such as less spontaneity, apathy, and a tendency to withdraw from social interactions, may also occur early in the illness. As the disease progresses, problems in abstract thinking and in other intellectual functions develop. The patient may begin to have trouble with figures when working on bills, with understanding what is being read, or with organizing the day's work. Further disturbances in behavior and appearance may also be seen at this point, such as agitation, irritability, quarrelsomeness, and a diminishing ability to dress appropriately. Later in the course of the disorder, affected individuals may become confused or disoriented about what month or year it is, be unable to describe accurately where they live, or be unable to name a place being visited.
• Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed when: (1) a person has sufficient cognitive decline to meet criteria for dementia; (2) the clinical course is consistent with that of Alzheimer's disease; and (3) no other brain diseases or other processes are better explanations for the dementia.
• Other causes for the cognitive problems must be ruled out before a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can be properly made. They include neurological disorders such as
• Parkinson's disease cerebrovascular disease and strokes, brain tumors, blood clots, and multiple sclerosis, infectious diseases of the central nervous system, side effects of medications, psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, metabolic disorders, trauma, toxic factors, etc.
• a comprehensive clinical evaluation is essential in arriving at the correct diagnosis.
• Such an evaluation should include at least three major components; (1) a thorough general medical workup; (2) a neurological examination including testing of memory and other functions of thinking; and (3) a psychiatric evaluation to assess mood, anxiety, and clarity of thought.
• imaging of the brain is sometimes used for evaluation purposes. Frequently used techniques for imaging include non-contrast CT scan and MRI.
• Alzheimer patients receiving anti- Alzheimer treatment are typically in the relatively early stages of the disease progression with mild to moderate symptoms, such that their improvement from the therapeutic agent will be easier to determine and thus their future treatment plan can be properly adjusted.
• individuals suspected of beginning to develop Alzheimer's disease or considered at risk of developing this disease may also receive such treatment, so that their progression towards onset of the disease may be halted or reversed, or their risk of developing the disease may be diminished or eliminated.
• the anti- Alzheimer treatment e.g., IVIG administration
• a therapeutic agent intended for treating Alzheimer's disease is assessed for its efficacy, in which cases Alzheimer's patients are placed in treatment and non-treatment groups for comparison purposes, for example, to demonstrate any change in ventricular enlargement rate attributable to the effects of the therapeutic agent.
• Patients assigned to the two groups would preferably have overall reasonably matched characteristics such as age, gender, medical history, ethnic background, education level, severity of their Alzheimer's disease, etc.
• IgGs concentrated immunoglobulins
• IVIG intravenous immunoglobulin
• IgG compositions are also included in the term "IVIG" in this application.
• IVIG products suitable for use in practicing this invention may be obtained from a number of commercial suppliers, including Baxter Bioscience, Talecris Biotherapeutics, Grifols USA, Octapharma USA, and ZLB Behring.
• a therapeutic agent To successfully treat a disease or condition, a therapeutic agent must be administered in an effective amount.
• the term "effective amount" refers to an amount of a therapeutic agent, such as an IVIG preparation, that results in a detectable improvement or remediation of a medical condition being treated in the subject (e.g., Alzheimer's disease).
• An effective amount to be administered to the subject can be determined by a physician with consideration of individual differences in age, weight, disease severity, dose and frequency of administration, and individual response to the therapy.
• an IVIG product can be administered to a subject within the range of about 0.2 g/kilogram of patient body weight to about 4 g/kilogram body weight each time, and the frequency of administration may range from twice a week, once a week, twice a month, once a month, or once every other month.
• One exemplar dose range of IVIG is between about 0.1 to about 1 or about 0.2 to about 0.8 g/kg patient body weight, typically administered at the frequency of twice a month or once a month.
• IVIG is administered to some Alzheimer's patients at the dose of 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 g/kg body weight according to a twice-a-month schedule. In other cases, IVIG is administered at the dose of 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 g/kg body weight according to a once-a-month schedule.
• the duration of IVIG treatment for Alzheimer's disease can vary: it may be as short as 3 or 6 months, or may be as long as 18 months, 2 years, 5 years, or 10 year. In some case, the IVIG treatment may last the remainder of a patient's natural life. Effectiveness of the IVIG treatment may be assess during the entire course of administration after a certain time period, e.g., every 3 months or every 6 months for an 18-month treatment plan. In other cases, effectiveness may be assessed every 9 or 12 months for a longer treatment course. The administration schedule (dose and frequency) may be adjusted accordingly for any subsequent administration. This scheme of assessment and adjustment need not be limited to the IVIG treatment of Alzheimer's disease: any other therapeutic brain preserving agent used or proposed for Alzheimer's disease treatment may be analyzed and followed in the same or similar manner.
• a number of brain disorders exhibit enlarged ventricular space. Often such
• ventricular enlargement rate correlates closely with response to IVIG treatment, and that therapeutic intervention with a brain preserving therapy shows decreased, measurable ventricular enlargement or brain atrophy which correlates to improvement in cognitive function as indicated by neuropsychological evaluation.
• changes in ventricular volume can be readily detected and quantified by imaging methods. Monitoring ventricular enlargement rate therefore provides a far more objective and reliable standard for assessing the response to IVIG treatment.
• a variety of methods are known to the medical professionals for imaging the brain for visualizing and quantifying ventricular volume.
• CT scan and MRI are among the most frequently used.
• Software for showing the images and analyzing changes in ventricular space is typically provided with the imaging equipment from the manufactures but may also be obtained according to specific needs from commercial suppliers.
• ventricular volume is monitored on a pre-determined time schedule.
• patients on IVIG treatment may be imaged every 3 months or every 6 months for the duration of their treatment, with the first time point being just prior to the start of the treatment.
• Their ventricular volume is determined for each time point and comparisons are made for each ventricular volume starting from the second time point with the ventricular volume at the previous time point to determine a change. This change is then compared against an "expected" rate of ventricular enlargement in an Alzheimer's patient of similar state but without any anti- Alzheimer brain preserving treatment.
• treatment for the time period between the two time points is deemed effective. If the observed change is equal to or greater than the "expected" rate of enlargement, treatment for the time period between the two time points is deemed ineffective.
• Various actions may then be taken depending on the specific circumstances. For example, if the treatment is deemed ineffective after relatively low dose or low administration frequency has been used, the physician may consider increasing the dose or administration frequency for the patient and observe for the next time period for signs of improved effectiveness.
• the physician may find the treatment ineffective for the particular patient and order the treatment discontinued.
• the physician may also have the option to either maintain the same schedule of treatment or, as appropriate in some cases, modify slightly the treatment plan for further assessment and adjustment as needed.
• ventricular volume change in patients having Alzheimer's disease is compared between the therapeutic group (i.e., the group that has received the therapeutic agent) and non-therapeutic group (i.e., the group that has not received the therapeutic agent).
• the average rate of ventricular enlargement in the non-therapeutic group is determined over a time period and then compared with the average rate of ventricular enlargement in the therapeutic group is determined over a time period. If the therapeutic group has an average ventricular enlargement rate lower than that of the non-therapeutic group, the therapeutic agent is deemed effective for preserving brain volume and function.
• each of the therapeutic and non-therapeutic group should include a reasonable number of individuals, for example, at least 5, 8, or 10, or at least 12, 15, or 20 people.
• IVIG Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
• IVIG Phase 2 Study Design The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled, parallel arm, add-on clinical trial testing safety and utility/futility of IVIG treatment for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). 24 subjects with mild to moderate AD (as determined by MMSE 14-26) participated in the trial. For the placebo group, a 6-month placebo period was controlled with a 12-month open-label extension. Primary clinical outcomes were measured by ADAS-Cog and CGIC, where a positive outcome was predefined as a difference of at least 1.7 ADAS-Cog points at 6 months in IGIV group and numeric superiority on CGIC. Secondary clinical outcomes were measured by NPI, ADCS-ADL, QOL, 3MS, and neuropsychological battery. Fig. 1 provides an outline of the study design.
• Dosage range IVIG infusion was given at the frequency of once per 2 weeks or once per 4 weeks at the single dose of 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 grams IVIG per kg patient body weight.
• Figure 7 shows the effect of IVIG treatment on ADAS-Cog scores from baseline to 18 months by comparing the placebo group with 4 IVIG groups (0.8 g/kg once per 4 weeks; 0.4 g/kg once per 4 weeks; 0.4 g/kg once per 2 weeks; and 0.2 g/kg once per 2 weeks).
• the group that received 0.4 g/kg infusion every 2 weeks again shows the most notable improvement from the baseline ADAS-Cog results.
• Figures 9-12 show the effect of IVIG treatment on secondary measures of ADLs, and 3MS, respectively, by comparing the placebo group with 4 IVIG groups (0.8 g/kg once per 4 weeks; 0.4 g/kg once per 4 weeks; 0.4 g/kg once per 2 weeks; and 0.2 g/kg once per 2 weeks).
• the 0.4 g/kg/2wk group consistently achieved the most improvement.
• Table 3 provides a responder analysis at 18 months of the study.
• IVIG Intravenous Immunoglobulin
• Neuronal loss during normal aging causes brain atrophy (or shrinkage).
• Neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's Disease causes accelerated brain atrophy.
• brain atrophy leads to progressive enlargement of the fluid-filled cerebral ventricles.
• the rate of ventricular enlargement over time provides an objective measure of the rate of Alzheimer's disease progression.
• ventricular volume measurements have more favorable signal to noise characteristics. For instance, studies have indicated that volumetric measurement of hippocampus records an annual change of 5% in AD patients with an measurement error of 2-5%, and volumetric measurement of whole brain records an annual change of 2-4% in AD patients with an measurement error of 0.5-1%; whereas ventricular volume measurement can detect an annual change of 8-12% in AD patients with an measurement error of 0.5-1%.
• Ventricular volume was quantified using Freesurfer and Brain Ventricular Quantification software. Ventricular enlargement rates (VERs) were calculated from the difference between baseline and 18 months ventricular volumes divided by the product of baseline volumes and interscan intervals. Image analysis was performed blinded to treatment assignments and clinical outcomes.
• MRI brain images and clinical outcome data were collected over 18 months in the Phase 2 study of Gammagard IVIG (Baxter) for treatment of mild to moderate AD. Subjects completing a baseline volumetric MRI as well as one follow-up MRI after 18 months of study participation were included in this analysis. Ventricular volume changes are analyzed by comparing subjects treated continuously over 18 months with IVIG to those treated initially with placebo.
• MRI measurements were performed on a 3T GE Echospeed MRI scanner. 128 serial slices of 1 mm thickness were obtained through the entire brain volume. An 3D-SPGR sequence was employed, which was sufficient for whole brain and ventricles volumetry but suboptimal for grey and white matter segmentation and detailed sub-region analyses. Post-processing of imaging data was performed blinded to study arm assignments and clinical outcomes.
• Figure 13 compares annual change in ventricular volume among AD patients who received placebo or IVIG during the 18-month study, where IVIG treatment shows a
• Figure 14 compares changes in whole brain volume among AD patients who received placebo or IVIG during the 18-month study, where IVIG treatment again shows a significantly reduced rate of brain atrophy.
• Figure 15 shows the correlation between changes in VER and two cognitive test scores (CGIC and ADAS-Cog) in the 18-month study.
• Figure 16 shows the correlation between change in whole brain volume and two cognitive test scores (CGIC and ADAS-Cog) in the 18-month study.

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